Paper dispenser



June 25, 1957 E. RUCH 2,797,054

I PAPER DISPENSER v Filed Sept. 21, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 June 25, 1957E. RUCH 2,797,054

PAPER DISPENSER Filed Se t. 21 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Q *m m Fig.7 1

PAPER DISPENER Egon Rush,HertensteintLnzern), Switzerland ApplicationSeptember 21, 1%5, Serial No. 535,632

Claims priority, application Switzerland September 23, 1954 Claims.(ill. 242-55.3)

The present invention relates to paper dispensers and more particularlyto a toilet-paper dispenser having means for mounting a roll oftoilet-paper in a rotatable and interchangeable manner. Known devices ofthis kind have the disadvantage that, after the rotatably supportedpaper roll has been used up, paper is not available anymore, a factwhich is disagreeable, especially, in public lavatories, in hotels etc.The attempt has been made to overcome this disadvantage in that a fullspare roll of toilet-paper was stored in immediate proximity. However,this solution proved to be unsatisfactory since practically nobodybothers to insert this roll in place of the used-up one into theappropriate holder. Furthermore, it has been found that these sparerolls are misappropriated very often and then are not available whenneeded.

It has been proposed to accommodate the paper roll in use, together witha spare roll, in a box-like container, from which the empty tube of thefirst-mentioned paper roll can be removed after exhaustion, whereby thespare roll is transferred by gravity to the place of the used-up roll.However, in known toilet-paper dispensers of this kind, no means are"provided for preventing removal and misappropriation of the spare rolland of the paper roll in use so that the drawbacks mentioned above arenot overcome.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a paperdispenser, and more particularly a toilet-paper dispenser in which aspare roll of paper can be 'kept in readiness in such a way that itsremoval is effectively prevented.

Another object'of the invention is toprovide a dispenser of the saidkind in which replacement of an exhausted roll of paper by a full rollof paper can readily be effected without the aid of tools.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will appear from thedescription now to follow, of two preferred embodiments thereof given byway of example only and in which reference will be had to theaccompanying drawings.

In these drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a toilet-paper dispenser containing onlyone spare roll of paper,

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section on the line IIlI of Fig. 3, of the samepaper dispenser but containing two spare rolls of paper,

Fig. 3 is a vertical section on the line IIIIII of Fig. 2 through aportion of the paper dispenser when empty,

Fig. 4 partially shows, in a sectional view similar to Fig. 2, a portionof the paper dispenser at the moment at which the empty tube of a paperroll is ejected,

Fig. 5 is a vertical section through the second embodiment of atoilet-paper dispenser'according to the invention, containing two sparerolls,

Fig. 6 is a vertical section on the line VIVI of Fig. 5, and

Fig. 7 is a horizontal cross-s'ectionon'the line VII-VII of Fig. 5.

Referring more particularly to Figs. 1 to 4 of the drawlogs, thetoilet-paper dispenser comprises an elongated prismatic container 10,which extends in upright direction and which at its bottom is providedwith a refill opening 11 for inserting fresh paper rolls 12. The clearwidth of the refill opening 1 1 is narrower than the diameter of therolls 12 so that the latter must be laterally compressed to permit theirinsertion, whereby their supporting tubes 13 are squeezed to assume analmost flat shape. However, when the rolls 12 are enclosed in thecontainer 10, they resume their original substantially circular crosssection. For this reason, the rolls 12 will not drop out again throughthe refill opening 11. Inside the container 10 and adjoining saidaperture 11 there are ribs 14, which extend in the direction ofintroduction of the rolls 12 and have sharp edges 15 at their endsfacing the interior of the container. These edges prevent the rolls 12from being pulled out again from the container 1'0 without sufferingconsiderable damage.

The container 10 is large enough to hold a total of three full rolls.The uppermost roll 12a is destined for immediate use, while theremaining rolls serve as spares. The roll 12min use is rotatablyjournalled on two stub axles 20, each of which is secured coaxially withthe other to one end of a leaf spring 21 riveted to the adjacent wall ofthe container so that the stub axles 20 can be moved apart from eachother against the pressure of the springs 21. Figs. 1 and 3 show thatthe container 10 on its lateral walls is provided with outwardlydirected projections 22 in which the springs 21 are housed and intowhich the stub axles 20 can retreat when forced apart. The two axles 2i)engage the tube 13a of the topmost roll from the opposite ends thereof.At their ends confronting each other, the stub axles 20 are providedwith inclined surfaces 23 which enable them to be forced apart by movinga full roll 12 into its position of use.

At its top the container 10 isprovided with a discharge opening 25through which the paper can be pulled off from the rotatably journalledroll 12a. A flap 26 is supported in the container for pivotal movementabout an axle 27, This flap rests by gravity on the top surface of theroll 12a, in order toapply some drag to the latter. However, this flapalso limits the size of the opening 25 so that a roll not yet used upcannot be removed through this opening. For that purpose, the angularmovement of the flap 26 in upward direction is limited. Triangularextensions 28 of the flap hear immediately against the lateral walls ofthe container 10 and abut against the stub axles 20 when the flap 26 isswung in upward direction (Fig. 4). The same extensions also serve forlimiting the angular movement in downward direction, by abutting againstthe back wall of the container 10. When the flap 26 is swung into itsuppermost position (Fig. 4), the passage left by it in the opening 25has such a width that an emptied roll-tube 13a can be ejected throughit.

The refill opening 11 and the discharge opening 25, as above stated, areprovided in the opposite end faces of the container 10.

The front wall of the container 10 is provided with a slot 30 whichextends vertically in the longitudinal direction of the container. Thisslot permits to see the partly exposed spare rolls 12 and to seize themfor moving them into their dispensing position as described later on.The rear wall of the container is provided with a slot 31 in ananalogous manner and also comprises any well known means (not shown) forsecuring the container to a wall 32.

The container 10 is preferably made from synthetic material, but it mayalso consist of metal.

Use and operation of the described toilet-paper dispenser is as follows:

The toilet-paper may be pulled in conventional manner 3 from theuppermost roll 12a rotatably supported on the stub axles 20. When thatroll is exhausted, one grasps through the slot 30 the first spare roll12 situated below the empty roll and moves this full spare roll upwardlyin the direction of the arrow A in Fig. 4. In doing so the full rollhits the empty roll-tube 13 1 and also pushes it upwards. As the ends ofthe bottom portion of the tube 13a and of the top surface of the fullroll 12 move along the inclined surfaces 23 of the stub axles 20, the

latter are spread apart. Thereby it is possible to remove the empty tubefrom its bearing and to insert the full roll 12 into the bearingarrangement. The released empty tube 13a is thus automatically ejectedin upward direction through the opening 25 as the roll 12 is pushedalong, whereby the flap 26 is swung into the position shown in Fig. 4.As soon as the full roll 12 is moved high enough, the stub axles 20 snapinto the end openings of the tube 13 of said roll, whereby the latterbecomes rotatably supported on said axles. Then, only the beginning ofthe wound paper has to be drawn out through the opening 25.

As evident from the above description, the replacement of an exhaustedroll by a full spare roll can be effected in a very short time withoutthe aid of tools and without actuating screws and the like. Theattendant only must from time to time insert one or two fresh sparerolls into the container 10, through the refill opening 11-.

The rotatably supported roll 12a cannot be pushed upwardly through theopening 25 and out of the container 10, as can the empty tube 13a, sincethe width of the opening 25 is not wide enough for doing so.Consequently, with the described toilet-paper dispenser it will beimpossible to misappropriate full rolls or rolls which are notsubstantially exhausted.

At the refill opening 11, other retaining means than the indicated ribs14 could be provided for inhibiting undue removal of full spare rolls12. The retaining means could be a lockable member, e. g. a trapdoor orsliding door. This member could then be provided with a lock and couldonly be opened by the attendant by means .of a special key. In anotherpossible form of construction the retaining means could compriserotatable cylinders arranged on opposite sides of the refill opening andprovided with salient points on their circumference, said cylinderscooperating with means (such as a ratchet device) which permit rotationof the cylinders in'one direction only, but which inhibit rotationthereof in the opposite direction, so that the circumferential portionsof the cylinders facing each other could be moved only towards theinterior of the container in order to introduce the spare rolls, withthe said salient points of the cylinders penetrating somewhat into thepaper rolls. Removal of the paper rolls is then not possible anymorewithout damaging said rolls considerably and causing possible injury tothe fingers of any person trying to remove them. Alternatively, thelocking means could comprise a vane wheel on the housing in such aplace, that in certain angular positions of the wheel at least one ofits blades entirely or partly blocks the refill opening. The intervalsby which the blades are spaced from each other should then be largeenough to accommodate a full spare roll so that the latter can beinserted into the container within said interval when the vane wheel isrotated in the ap propriate direction. However rotation in reversedirection should be prevented by associated locking members.

The refill opening must not necessarily be provided at the bottom endwall of the container, but may also be arranged in a side wall of saidcontainer.

Moreover, the discharge opening provided for removing the emptiedroll-tubes must not absolutely be arranged at the top end wall of thecontainer. However, it is preferable to shape the. container in such away that the spare'rolls do not rest on the circumference of therotatably supported roll and therefore are not rotated by the latterwhen paper is withdrawn from it. For this 4 reason the refill openingmust always be located at a lower level than the discharge opening.

The toilet-paper dispenser could also be formed or secured to a wall insuch a manner that the spare rolls must be moved in a horizontaldirection towards the place where they will be rotatably supported foruse. For instance, the container might be mounted with one of itslateral walls comprising the projection 22 facing the wall of thebuilding and the row of rolls being horizontal instead of vertical; theaxes of the paper rolls then still would be horizontal. Under certaincircumstances, however, the toilet-paper dispenser could also be formedso that the axes of the paper rolls extend longitudinally of thecontainer.

Instead of having a longitudinal slot 30 through which the spart rollcan be grasped for moving it to the place where it will be rotatablysupported for use, in all the constructions referred to so far, thecontainer may also be provided with a substantially narrower slot inwhich a slider'operatable from outside the container is guided.

This slider should then be provided with a driver projecting into thecontainer and by means of which the first spare roll can be transferredinto the said place for use. The driver may be arranged to collapse intoan inelfective position against the influence of a spring when theslider is returned, so that it may return past the roll thus transferredand, if desired also past one or more further spare rolls.

The toilet-paper dispenser shown in Figs. 5 to 7 is generally similar tothat previously described. The principal difference between it and thedispenser shown in Figs. 1 to 4 is found in the arrangement of thelowermost spare rolland in the construction of the means preventing itsremoval from the container.

As indicated in Figs. 5 to 7, the lowermost paper roll 12, after havingbeen pushed through the refill opening '11 into the storing space of thecontainer 12, is rotatably supported on two coaxial stub axles 40 whichare parallel to the stub axles 20 and each of which is secured to onesurfaces 43 remotest from each other is at least equal to the length ofthe refill opening 11 and thus issomewhat greater than the axial lengthof the paper rolls to be used.

For inserting a fresh spare roll into the container, said roll is forcedfrom below through the refill opening 11 and against the paper roll 12then supported on the stub axles 40. The tube 13 of the last-mentionedroll 12 thus 'exerts some pressure against the inclined surfaces 43 andthereby spreads the stub axles 40 apart so that this latter roll 12 canbe pushed past these stub axles and upwardly into the vacant storingspace. By means of the freshly inserted paper roll the stub axles 40 aremaintained forced .apart from each other until they snap into the endopenings of the tube of this fresh roll. The lowermost spare rollmounted on the stub axles 40 in the described manner cannot anymore bepulled downwardly out of the container 10 through the refill opening 11,as will be obvious from Fig. 5.

In the embodiment shown in Figs. 5 to7, space is left for a third rollfreely floating in the container 10 between the two paper rollsrotatably supported by the resilient stub axles 20 and 40, respectively.However, it will be understood that the container 10 may also bedimensioned for the reception for two rolls only, in which case bothrolls, i e. the roll in use and the only spare roll, will be supportedon resilient stub axles.

I claim:

1. In a paper dispenser, a prismatic container enclosing a space capableof containing at least two rolls of paper each wound on a tubularmember, said container having a discharge opening for paper unwound fromone of the said rolls, a pair of mutually aligned stub axles resilientlymounted in said container for axial displacement and adapted tocooperate for rotatably supporting said one roll of paper in a firstportion of said space adjacent said discharge opening by engagement ofsaid stub axles into the end openings of its said tubular member, eachof said stub axles having an inclined surface at its end facing theopposite stub axle, said inclined surfaces diverging towards anotherportion of said space capable of containing at least one other of saidrolls of paper at a level not higher than that at which the said oneroll of paper is adapted to be supported by said stub axles, a flapmember swingably supported in said container within said dischargeopening and adapted to contact said one roll of paper, and abutmentmeans for limiting outward swinging of said flap member so as to preventthe latter from clearing the said discharge opening beyond the ex tentrequired for discharge therethrough of said tubular member when bare.

2. In a paper dispenser, a prismatic container enclosing a space capableof containing at least two rolls of paper, said container having adischarge opening for paper unwound from one of the said rolls and arefill opening for inserting said rolls into said container, and meansfor preventing said inserted rolls from removal through said refillopening, the width of said refill opening being smaller than thediameter of said rolls of paper whereby the latter can be insertedthrough said refill opening only in diametrally compressed condition andin which said container comprises internal projections adjacent saidrefill opening, said projections having sharp edges facing away fromsaid refill opening for preventing undamaged withdrawal of the insertedrolls towards said opening.

3. In a paper dispenser, a prismatic container enclosing a space capableof containing at least two rolls of paper each wound on a tubularmember, said container having a discharge opening for paper unwound fromone of the said rolls and a refill opening for inserting said rolls intosaid container, at first pair of mutually aligned stub axles resilientlymounted in said container for axial displacement and adapted tocooperate for rotatably supporting said one roll of paper in a firstportion of said space adjacent said discharge opening, by theirengagement into the end openings of the said tubular member of saidfirst roll; each of said stub axles having an inclined surface at itsend facing the opposite stub axle of the pair, said inclined surfacesdiverging towards another portion of said space capable of containing atleast one other of said rolls of paper at a level not higher than thatat which the said one roll of paper is adapted to be supported by thestub axles of said first pair, a second pair of mutually aligned stubaxles resiliently mounted in said container for axial displacement andadapted to cooperate for supporting another of said rolls of paper insaid other portion of said space adjacent said refill opening, by theirengagement into the end openings of the said tubular member of saidother roll, each of said stub axles of the second pair having aninclined surface at its end facing the opposite stub axle of the pair,said inclined surfaces diverging towards said refill opening.

4. A paper dispenser as claimed in claim 3 in which said stub axles ofthe first and second pairs are carried each on one end of a resilientblade fixed at its opposite end to the container, the resilient bladescarrying the stub axles of the first pair extending from their fixed endtowards the discharge opening and the resilient blades carrying the stubaxles of the second pair extending from their fixed end towards therefill opening, in alignment each with one of the resilient blades ofthe first pair.

5. A paper dispenser as claimed in claim 3 in which the distance betweenthe extreme points of said diverging inclined surfaces of the stub axlesof the second pair is at least equal to the length of said refillopening.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,095,419 Pollard Oct. 12, 1937 2,603,427 Holmes July 15, 1952 2,620,991Defienbaugh Dec. 9, 1952

